Abstract: This book, by one of the leading authorities on the subject, presents a deep analysis of the very difficult current situation in Afghanistan. Covering a wide range of important subjects including state-building, democracy, war, the rule of law and international relations, the book draws out two overarching key factors: the way in which the prevailing neopatrimonial political order, established in an earlier "state-free" period, has become entrenched, making it very difficult for any other political order to take root; and the hostile region in which Afghanistan is located, especially the way in which an ongoing "creeping invasion" from Pakistani territory has compromised the aspirations of both the Afghan government and its international backers to move the country to a more stable position.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents: The unravelling of Afghanistan -- Statebuilding and reconstruction -- Statebuilding : challenges and pathologies -- Political development : mass, elite and institutional dimensions -- Reconstruction : a critical assessment -- Democracy and elections -- Democracy and legitimation : challenges in the reconstitution of political processes -- Afghan elections : from the sublime to the ridiculous? -- Law and human rights -- The rule of law and the weight of politics : challenges and trajectories -- Human rights in Afghanistan -- War -- Surviving in a war zone : the problem of civilian casualties -- Pakistan-Afghanistan relations -- US-Afghanistan relations -- Talking to the Taliban -- Conclusion -- Alternative futures for Afghanistan.

English